Bed sheet



Dec. 19, 1961 R. A. STEFFINICH BED SHEET Filed Aug. 51, 1960 INVENTOR.

RUD LPH A. STEFFINICH BY ATTORNEY 3,013,283 BED SHEET Rudolph A.Stefiinich, 724 Kansas St,

San Francisco, Calif. Filed Aug. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 53,111 7 Claims.(Cl. --334) This invention relates to bed sheets and more particularlyto the type of sheet commonly known as contour sheets.

Bed sheets of this type are constructed so that those portions whichextend vertically downward over the sides and ends of the mattress aresecured directly together where they meet at the corners, so as to fitabout the corners of the mattress and thereby to be held in positionupon the mattress, instead of dependence being had upon a tucking of theloose sides and ends of the sheet under the sides and ends of themattress for holding the sheet in place. A sheet of this type, when inits position on the bed, is somewhat in the shape of the conventionalcard-board box lid, in that it has a main portion which is fiat andhorizontal, with vertical portions depending along the four edgesthereof. In such sheets the vertical portrons of the sheet are generallymade wide enough at the corner areas so that they extend inwardlyunderneath the mattress for a short distance at the corners of themattress. They also generally cover only the mattress, the verticalportions of the sheet not extending far enough downwardly to cover thebox-springs or other type of SPllllQ'S on which the mattress rests. Infact, since such sheets extend under the mattress in the corner areas,it would involve a rather complicated structure to have such sheet coverboth the mattress and the vertical sides of the box-springs.

As heretofore constructed, sheets of this type, when in place on themattress, are likely to be wrinkled or otherwise not smooth, unlesstheir dimensions are such that they fit very snugly against the verticalportions and over the top of the mattress. With slight variations in thesize of either the mattress or the sheet, or because of shrinkage orother contortions that may result, such as from laundering, the sheetsare quite likely not to be smooth or unwrinkled when in their intendedposition on the mattress. Moreover, by covering only the mattress, theyafford no protection against the vertical side and end portions of thebox-springs below the mattress from becoming soiled, such as from theclothing of persons who might sit upon the edge of the bed when only thesheet is on the mattress. Furthermore, they do not protect against theaccumulation of dust on the boxsprings. Another disadvantage in thecontour sheet as heretofore constructed lies in the fact that Where theedges of the sheet are to extend underneath the mattress, the cornerportions of the mattress must be lifted and held while the sheet isbeing pulled into its proper position.

In an effort heretofore to overcome these disadvantages resort has beenhad to tying means and various other devices and arrangements whichinvolve accessory parts to the sheet and which almost invariably requirethat a considerable area of the sheet extend underneath the mattressalong both the sides and ends of the mattress, with means for stretchingsuch portions of the sheet and tying, cl' mping or otherwise securingsuch stretched horizontal portions underneath the mattress. Examples ofthese prior efforts are seen in the following US. Patents: #2,569,627 toBlack, #2,662,234 to Citron, #2,791,784 to Tornsic, #2,804,632 to Ford,#2,857,6 43 to Tomsic, and #2,85l,703 to Greco.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bed sheet of the contourtype which is adapted to fit snugly and smoothly over the mattresswithout having a part of the red rates Patent 9 sheet extend underneaththe mattress and without tying or clamping fixtures being used inconnection therewith.

It is another object to provide a sheet of the contour type which can beplaced in its intended position on the mattress without having to liftand hold the mattress or portions thereof upwardly from the box-springsor other springs section of the bed on which the mattress normally restsin order to pull the sheet into its position on the mattress.

Another object is to provide a sheet of the contour type wherein thevertical sections which cover the sides and ends of the mattress mayalso cover the sides and ends of the box-spring element of the bed andwhich will help to hold the mattress in its proper position on thebox-springs. By the term box-springs or box-spring element 1 refer tothose arrangements wherein the coiled springs and the framework whichsupports these springs and keeps them in proper position with respect toeach other are encased within or covered by a fabric material to givethe said framework and springs unit as a Whole a box-like form.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear fromthe ensuing description and appended claims.

The invention is illustrated by Way of example in the accompanyingdrawings and is described in detail hereinafter. The particularconstructions herein shown and described are to be construed asillustrative only, and not as limiting the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing one form of my bed sheet in placeover both the mattress and the boxsprings on which the mattress normallyrests.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary View of a modification of the sheet as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically an alternative stitching arrangement tothat used in the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows, diagrammatically, another arrangement for stitching whichis alternative to that used in the construction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional View on line 55 of FIG. 2, with the side andend sections of the sheet in one plane, for simplicity, instead of inthe two planes at the corner as in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, my sheet construction, which is adapted tocover a mattress 10 as well as the vertical side walls and ends of thebox-springs 11 on which the said mattress rests in its normal positionon the boxsprings, includes a main section 12 of cloth material suitablefor the manufacturer of conventional bedsheets, which said main sectionextends, at eachside thereof,

into a side section 13, and, at each end thereof, into an end section14. The two side sections and the two end sections are each of widthsufiicient to fit over the vertical side faces and the vertical endtaces, respectively, of both the mattress 10 and the box-springs 11.Positioned between the adjacent ends of the side and end sections, andsecured thereto by suitable stitching, is an elastic fabric member, 15,there being, therefore, one said elastic member at each of the fourvertical corner edges of the sheet. An area of the cloth material at theends of the side and end sections 13 and 14 is cut away or recessed inan amount to conform generally to the shape of the elastic member 15 tobe secured thereto, but also by an amount such that when the sheet isplaced in its intended position on the mattress the elastic member 15will have to be stretched to a mild degree in a direction longitudinalto the said side and end cloth sections, and be kept in a state ofmedium or mild tension while the sheet remains in its position on themattress. This means that the effective recessed or cut-away area of theside and end cloth sections of the sheet, in a longitudinal directionwith respect to said side and end sections (a transverse direction withrespect to the elastic member), will be somewhat in excess of thedistance from the vertical median line of the elastic member to the lineof stitching which secures the elastic member to the side and end clothsections of the sheet when the elastic member is in an un-stretchedstate. The vertical height of the elastic member is preferably in excessof its transverse width. A suitable shape for the main portion of thiselastic member is that of a rectangular strip of the order of 3 inchesin width. This will give a clear distance from its vertical median line(which corresponds with the corner of the sheet) out to the stitchingwhich secures the strip to the said side and end sections of slightlyless than one and one-half inches so as to assure that the elasticmember will be in tension when the sheet is in its intended position onthe mattress. The width of the elastic member is not critical and mayvary, depending upon the strength of the rubber or other elastomericmaterial in the member.

It is preferable that the upper end of the strip of elastic member 15 beformed into a triangular shape with the apex 16 of the triangle on themedian line of the member. Any taper or slope from the sides of thestrip to form the triangle may be employed. It is also preferable thatthis apex 16 lie at some relatively short distance below the upper endof the vertical corner edge where the side and end sections 13 and 14 ofthe cloth material meet the main section 12 of the sheet, so that ashort upper portion 17 of the vertical corner edge of the sheet abovethe elastic member 15 will exist wherein the side and end sections 13and 14 of cloth material are joined and secured directly together, i.e.,without there being any portion of the elastic member therebetween.Desirably, though not necessarily, the apex 16 may be about two inchesbelow the top of the said corner edge.

One form of alternative shape for the elastic member 15 is shown in FIG.2 where the entire member is in the form of a triangle, again with itsapex 16 on the median line, i.e., on the vertical corner edge, and atsome distance below the upper end of the vertical corner edge.

Any suitable arrangement and stitching may be employed for securing theelastic member 15 to the side and end sections of cloth material of thesheet. In FIG. 3 there is shown one arrangement wherein the side and endsections 13 and 14 are folded downwardly along their edges and theelastic member positioned with its edges underneath said folds, thestitching 18 being through both cloth layers of the folds and throughthe elastic member. Another arrangement for securing the elastic memberin its position to the side and end sections is shown in FIG. 4, whereinthe edges of the elastic member 15 overlap the edges of the side and endcloth sections 13 and 14, and a reinforcing member 19 comprising anarrow strip of cloth or other suitable material is placed along andabove the said overlap, one row of the stitching 18 being through thetwo overlapping pieces and the said reinforcing member 19, and anotherrow of stitching 18 through the said reinforcing member strip 19 and theside or end section 13 or 14 as the case may be. Any suitable materialmay be thus used for the reinforcing strip 19. The views in FIGS. 3 and4 are somewhat diagrammatic, as if the portion of the sheet involvedwere positioned in one plane; whereas actually, when the sheet is inposition on the bed, the said portion would be positioned at a corner ofthe bed and therefore in two planes. In the constructions shown in FIGS.1 and 2 this reinforcing strip 19 is not present, the construction thereshown being one in which the edge of the elastic overlaps that of thesheet material and the stitching 18 being through the two layers ofmaterial.

Along the short upper portion 17 of the vertical corner edges of thesheet there may, if desired, be employed a narrow reinforcing strip inthe stitching together of the side and end sections 13 and 14 of thecloth material. One arrangement of such reinforcing strip, which may beof any suitable material and preferably one having finished edges, isshown in the view of FIG. 5 wherein the reinforcing strip 20 ispositioned over and around the facing areas of the portions along theedges of the side and end cloth sections 13 and 14, with stitching 18through all four layers of the materials. The view in this FIG. 5 issomewhat diagrammatic, the same as that explained above for FIGS. 3 and4. Any suitable stitching or other means may be employed for joining theside and end sections together at the short upper portion 17 of thevertical corner edges of the sheet. No one particular such means isindicated in the view shown in FIG. 1.

For the elastic member 15 I prefer to use any good grade of elasticfabric material, such as that used in girdles and corsets. One suchmaterial sold in the trade consists of 68% cotton, 21% rayon and 11%rubber. Another consists of 30% cotton, 54% rayon and 16% rubber. Thestrength, elasticity and similar characteristics of the elastic memberare not critical so long as the member, when it is in a state of mild orreasonable tension, when the sheet is in its intended position over themattress and box-springs, will hold the side and end cloth sections, aswell as the top or main section of the sheet, smooth and firmly inplace. Lighter grades of elastic fabric material than those referred toabove may be employed, including that used for garters. In someinstances it may be desirable to use two pieces of elastic fabric, oneupon the other, to constitute a two-layer member, as is sometimes foundin the border areas of corsets and girdles. Such construction may beemployed with lighter grades of elastic fabric material. There arecomprehended within my invention other forms of elastc material than theelastic fabric material specifically referred to hereinabove, such forexample as members which are comprised largely, or even entirely, of anelastomeric substance even though such elastomeric substance not bewoven with other material. And other means of securing the elasticmember to the cloth material of the sheet than by stitching arecomprehended within the invention. There are also comprehended withinthe invention constructions wherein the side and end sections of thesheet are of width such that they cover only the mattress, and not thesprings structure on which the mattress rests. Where the springs are notencased within a fabric or similar structure to constitute thebox-springs as described hereinabove, there may not be any suitablecorner piece in the springs structure against which the elastic memberof my sheet could be positioned, in which instance the side and endsections of the sheet would be made to cover only the mattress.

While I have illustrated and described my invention in detail, it isunderstood that various modifications may be made therein by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bed sheet comprising a main section of cloth material adapted tofit over the top of a mattress; two side sections of cloth materialconstituting extensions of said main section, each said side sectionbeing of width sufiicient and only sufficient to fit over both avertical side face of said mattress and the adjacent vertical side faceof the box-springs on which said mattress rests with the lower edge ofeach of said side sections positioned substantially even with the loweredge of the adjacent vertical side face of said box springs; two endsections of cloth material constituting extensions of said main section,each said end section being of width sufiicient and only sufficient tofit over both a vetrical end face of said mattress and the adjacentvertical end face of the box-springs on which said mattress rests withthe lower edge of each of said end sections positioned substantiallyeven with the lower edge of the adjacent vertical end face of said boxsprings; a portion of elastic fabric material positioned between eachend of said side sections and the adjacent end of said end sections;said elastic fabric material having an edge secured by stitches to theend of said side section and another edge secured by stitches to saidadjacent end of said end section to connect said side section tosaid'end section at each of the four corners of said sheet; said elasticfabric portion being of such shape and the ends of said side and endsections to which said elastic fabric portion is secured having been cutaway or recessed prior to the stitching thereto of said elastic fabricmaterial, by an amount to conform to said shape of said elastic fabricportion, such that when said main section of said sheet is in itsintended position on said mattress and the said side and end sectionsare fitted over the vertical side and end faces of said mattress andbox-springs, said four portions of said elastic fabric will each be intension to hold said bed sheet smoothly in place over the top of saidmattress and around the four vertical faces of said mattress andboxsprings.

2. The bed sheet of claim 1 in which the said portion of elastic fabricmaterial, if it were so positioned as to be in a single plane, isrectangular in shape throughout the greater part of its area.

3. The bed sheet of claim 1 in which the said portion of elastic fabricmaterial, if it were so positioned as to lie in a single plane, istriangular in shape, and the apex of said triangle is in proximity tosaid main section of said sheet.

4. The bed sheet of claim 2 in which the longitudinal axis of saidrectangular area of said elastic fabric material is substantiallyequidistant from the side and end sections of said sheet to which saidelastic fabric material is secured.

5. The bed sheet of claim 4 in which the said portion of said elasticfabric materiaL at the upper end of said rectangular area, is formedinto a triangle which has its apex in proximity to said main section ofsaid sheet, and in which the adjacent edges of said side and endsections of said sheet above said apex of said triangle are securedtogether by stitches.

6. The bed sheet of claim 3 in which the adjacent edges of said side andend sections of said sheet above said apex of said triangle are securedtogether by stitches.

7. A bed sheet comprising a main section of cloth material adapted tofit over the top of a mattress; two side sections of cloth materialconstituting extensions of said main section, each said side sectionbeing of width sufficient and only sufficient to fit over both avertical side face or" said mattress and the adjacent vertical side faceof the box-springs on which said mattress rests with the lower edge ofeach of said side sections positioned substantially even with the loweredge of the vertical side face of said box springs; two end sections ofcloth material constituting extensions of said main section, each saidend section being of width sufiicient and only sufiicient to fit overboth a vertical end face of said mattress and the adjacent vertical endface of the box-springs on which said mattress rests with the lower edgeof each of said end sections positioned substantially even with thelower edge of the vertical end face of said box springs; an elasticmember positioned between each end of said side sections and theadjacent end of said end sections; said elastic member being secured tothe adjacent side and end cloth sections of said sheet to serve as aconnecting means therebetween at the four corners of the sheet; saidelastic members being secured to said side and end sections at adistance back from said corners such that when said main section of saidsheet is fitted over the top of said mattress and said side and endsections of said sheet are fitted over the vertical side and end facesof said mattress and boxsprings, said four elastic members will each bein tension to hold said bed sheet smoothly in place over the top of saidmattress and around the four vertical faces of said mattress andbox-springs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,359,526 Ray NOV. 23, 1920 2,417,333 Waetzman Mar. 11, 1947 2,624,893Harris Jan. 13, 1953

